diff --git a/src/emu/machine.c b/src/emu/machine.c
index d70161c..1ebb609 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine.c
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ int running_machine::run(bool firstrun)

 			#ifdef SDLMAME_EMSCRIPTEN
 			//break out to our async javascript loop and halt
-			js_set_main_loop(this);
+			//js_set_main_loop(this);
 			#endif

 			manager().web()->serve();
diff --git a/src/osd/modules/lib/osdlib_unix.c b/src/osd/modules/lib/osdlib_unix.c
index 7fe3c37..0ce6653 100644
--- a/src/osd/modules/lib/osdlib_unix.c
+++ b/src/osd/modules/lib/osdlib_unix.c
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ void osd_sleep(osd_ticks_t duration)
 	{
 		// take a couple of msecs off the top for good measure
 		msec -= 2;
+#ifdef SDLMAME_EMSCRIPTEN
+		emscripten_sleep(msec);
+#else
 		usleep(msec*1000);
+#endif
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/osd/sdl/video.c b/src/osd/sdl/video.c
index a5e5669..fe207b7 100644
--- a/src/osd/sdl/video.c
+++ b/src/osd/sdl/video.c
@@ -318,6 +318,12 @@ void sdl_osd_interface::update(bool skip_redraw)

 	if ((machine().debug_flags & DEBUG_FLAG_OSD_ENABLED) != 0)
 		debugger_update();
+
+#ifdef SDLMAME_EMSCRIPTEN
+	//must sleep from time to time even if we are unthrottled or running behind
+	//so that the browser does not hang
+	osd_sleep(3000);
+#endif
 }